On politics in the Golden State

Brown-Whitman Debate: Illegal immigration and a path to citizenship

KCRA's Kevin Riggs asked about whether the candidates support a path to legalization for illegal immigrants living in the United States.

"I support a path to legalization" as part of comprehensive federal immigration reform," Brown said.

"We can't round them up and deport them," he added. But for those in the country illegally who commit crimes, he said: "Let's get them deported."

Whitman said she opposes a path to legalization. She outlined a several-step approach that began with: "We have to secure the border of the United States of America."

She pledged more resources for border patrol agents, more enforcement of businesses hiring illegal immigrants, a guest worker program for agriculture and cracking down on sanctuary cities.

Reaching out to Latinos, a growing and powerful electoral bloc, she specially notes her opposition to Proposition 187, the 1994 ballot measure to strip illegal immigrants of state services, and her opposition to the controversial Arizona immigration law.